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Moon Express Is The First Private Company Allowed To Go To Deep Space

August 17, 2016

Written byCuriosity Staff

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Should you start packing for a private trip to the moon? Not yet, but the opportunity may come sooner than later. In August 2016, the U.S. startup Moon Express became the first private company to receive clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration to travel beyond the Earth's orbit. Moon Express CEO Naveen Jain had his eyes on this accomplishment since founding the company in 2010. But don't get excited about private trips to the moon just yet. So far, the FAA's clearance only allows Moon Express to send a robotic probe to the moon in order to scout for valuable resources on and within its surface. The goal is to begin mining the moon for resources like iron ore, water, precious metals, and more. The company hopes that in late 2017 it will become the first private company to land on the moon. Watch the video below for more details on Moon Express and its plans for deep space travel.

Moon Express Plans Its First Lunar Mission

It's the first private company with permission to leave Earth's orbit.